Leadership Retreat

For registered attendees of The Ohio Early Childhood Conference
Only $40 | Thursday, April 24, 2025

Featuring Leadership Expert Susan MacDonald
Includes 5 hours of OhioApproved Credit!

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In the dynamic and ever-evolving field of early childhood education, leadership presents both inspiring opportunities and complex challenges. Our Early Childhood Leadership Retreat will empower you with the skills, insights, and connections needed to lead with clarity, purpose, and lasting impact. This retreat allows you to step away from daily demands and immerse yourself in a supportive environment dedicated to reflection, collaboration, and growth.

Through expert-led workshops, engaging discussions, individual reflections, and peer networking, you will connect with a community of resilient and innovative leaders and be inspired to bring fresh energy to your leadership work. By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap for fostering strong relationships and creating a positive, respectful, and supportive environment for both children and adults.

Each participant will also receive a comprehensive reflection guide packed with actionable tips, practical strategies, and valuable resources to nurture a culture of appreciation and excellence within your organization.

SCHEDULE
Part 1: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Creating a Culture of Appreciation!
Discover how to cultivate a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and recognized for their unique strengths. This interactive session will equip you with strategies for building positive relationships and bringing renewed joy to your school community.
We will explore positive communication techniques, the Appreciative Inquiry model, impactful frameworks, reflective exercises, and interactive staff meeting activities. You will leave with a clear path for establishing resilient relationships and a positive, supportive, respectful work environment.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Keynote Address: Dr.Becky Bailey
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch (On Your Own)

Part 2: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Micro-Moments of Connection: Moving Beyond Negativity and Judgment to Strengthen Relationships
Effective communication is at the heart of successful leadership. Without it, inspiring and motivating educators becomes an ongoing challenge. In this transformative workshop, you will learn how to engage educators in meaningful dialogues that will impact program quality. You will also develop crucial skills for effective communication aligned with individual and program goals to foster a culture of growth and collaboration.

Participants will leave with innovative ideas for overcoming “That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It” (TTWWADI) habits and embracing fresh approaches to leadership.

Part 3: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Onward! Creating a Roadmap to Inspire and Guide Your Leadership Journey
Building on the presentations and reflective activities of the day, this session will help you design an empowering plan for the next phase of your leadership journey.

Your leadership plan will include:

A clear vision statement to inspire and guide your professional aspirations
A time-management action plan with intentional and effective strategies
A curated list of resources to support your goals and integrate new strategies into your work
A yearlong professional learning plan to maintain momentum and achieve your next level of growth
The retreat will wrap up with strategies for staying focused and committed to bringing your vision to life.